NILES, Ohio – The UIC baseball team (22-22, 15-11) out-hit Horizon League member Youngstown State (11-31, 6-13) on Saturday afternoon at Eastwood Field, but a solo homer by YSU’s Matt Sullivan in the seventh inning broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Penguins a 2-1 victory. UIC’s starting pitcher Ian Lewandowski was saddled with the loss despite allowing just two runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 frames.

The contest began as a pitcher’s duel as the score remained deadlocked at 0-0 through six innings. YSU’s Ryan Krokos tossed five frames of shutout ball and allowed a mere six hits. Alex Frey came in for relief in the seventh and retired six consecutive UIC batters for the Penguins, garnering his third win of the season.

The Flames broke the 0-0 stalemate in the top of the sixth inning after redshirt junior Zenon Kolakowski drove in senior Alex Jurich on a sac fly to center field. Jurich ended the day with two hits along with Alex Lee and Cody Bohanek.

YSU responded with a lone run in the bottom of the sixth as Lewandowski delivered a bases loaded walk to Shane Willoughby that plated Jake Ross. In the following frame, Sullivan gave Youngstown the go-ahead run with his fourth long ball of the season.

Sunday’s finale will commence at 11 a.m. CT. as sophomore Jack Andersen is slated to start for UIC. That game can be viewed live for free on the Horizon League Network.